Our Staff

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Dale Gienow,  Co-director Together with his wife Jody, Dale co-founded the Muskoka Wildlife Centre. He has worked in the wildlife field since the mid-eighties and has been personally responsible for the health and welfare of hundreds of species and thousands of wild creatures, at seven different zoological facilities accross Canada. Dale managed and still runs the country's largest live animal outreach program and has personally delivered his conservation messages, during some 6,000 presentations, to over 1.5 million audience members. When not educating the public or supervising operations at the centre, Dale can be found handling his wildlife wards during the filming of sequences for film productions on the big screen and television. He also routinely accepts the role of Scientific Advisor for wildlife documentary films aired on the Discovery Channel and Animal Planet.
Jody Gienow,  Co-director Jody, together with her husband Dale, founded the Muskoka Wildlife Centre. She has been a lecturer/educator and animal trainer at several wildlife facilities, for over 15 years. Her knowledge of animal behaviour, and wildlife husbandry is vast and Jody excels at the often precarious job of rearing our youngest creature wards in our nursery. She  possesses great experience and strengths for working with children and was responsible for setting up and running Ontario's first residential children's camp, at one of the provinces CAZA accredited zoos. Jody also has taken live animal emissaries to meet with thousands of students, routinely appeared on television nation-wide (most recently as the host of the newly released 'Hinterland Who's Who' public service announcements) and helped to create wildlife documentary films ... all in an effort to help develop an appreciation for our native wildlife in others.
Nick Rensink,  Director of Outreach Nick started working with animals professionally after graduating from Guelph University with a B.B.Sc. in 1990.  After spending over 15 years at the Metro Toronto Zoo caring for a host of different species of animals, learning from and about them, it was time for Nick to spread to others his contagious passion for wildlife. He moved north from the city to his own 100 acre wood with his wife and daughter and they have been enjoying a new group of critters in their neighbourhood forest since then.  As Nick travels the province heading up Canada's largest live-animal outreach team from our centre, he may be found making ridiculous skunk noises in front of toddlers at a daycare centre in the morning, lecturing college students in the afternoon and sharing stories with vacationing seniors on a cruise boat in the evening,  Maybe you'll see him and his creature friends in your neighbourhood...
Justin Kerkhof,  Front Desk Attendant Justin started out here at the centre as the most eagar volunteer we have ever had. He is never afraid to get his hands dirty and completes even the dirtiest of jobs without a complaint.  Justin is here at the centre as much as he can be and with his cheerful and positive attitude we thought he would be best suited as our front desk attendant.  When not working at the centre Justin can be found swimming and creating his own zoo on the computer.
Keith Packer,  Wildlife Care-giver Keith graduated from the Veterinary Technician Program at Northern College in 2002.  He came to the Muskoka Wildlife Centre with animal husbandry experience gained in the field at two other wildlife facilities.  Keith worked at a wildlife centre in northern Ontario and a zoological park in England.  Before coming to work here, Keith returned to Northern College to further his wildlife education and graduated from their Wildlife Rehabilitation Program.  When not busy feeding and caring for our resident animals here at the centre Keith can be found rollerblading, watching movies or juggling.
Laura Gallagher,  Wildlife Interpreter Laura attended Sheridan College, where she acquired an animal care certificate and she also attended Sir Sandford Fleming College, in Lindsay, in the Fish and Wildlife Technician program.  Laura served a co-op term here at the centre while attending Sheridan College and  her hard work, amazing attitude and obvious passion for wildlife landed her a position with our team.  Laura has learned many skills while working at our centre and has been a help in the care and upkeep of our animals as well as an asset in teaching the public about our creature wards. Laura is with us part-time and uses up the rest of her waking hours working with her horses.
Christa Maitland,  Wildlife Interpreter coming soon
Katrina Hunt,  Wildlife Interpreter Katrina has earned an Honors Bachelor of Science degree at York University as well as an Ontario Teachers Certificate. She came to our centre this summer well equipped to teach our visitors about our provinces wildlife after spending 10 years teaching young people in the Simcoe County Board of Education.  Katrina has an affinity for our provinces winged mammals, so if you have questions about bats she's the one to ask!  Katrina enjoys time with her family, hiking, canoeing and watching whatever nature sends their way.  She keeps busy, in what little spare time she has left, teaching her 3 daughters the fine art of catching (& releasing!) various amphibians and aquatic creatures.
Krystal Hewitt,  Wildlife Interpreter Krystal came to the centre as a highschool co-op student. Her hard work and love of wildlife landed her a summer position. Krystal is currently attending the University of Guelph for a Bachelor of Science with a major in Wildlife Biology. She will be working at the centre in the summer to further her knowledge of native wildlife, to work hands-on with the animals, and to get experience speaking of wildlife. Krystal enjoys spending as much time as she can with the animals here at the centre and when she isn't keeping busy here, she can be found walking dogs or fostering kittens for the local shelter as well as caring for her own animals at home.
Brady Bodden,  Wildlife Interpreter/General Maintenance Brady got his foot in our door when he volunteered at our centre as part of a college co-op placement.  His hard work and positive outlook paid off and Brady was brought on staff after graduating a Fish and Wildlife Technologist at Sir Sandford Fleming College. He will be working at the centre this season to gain some hands-on experience with wildlife and public speaking.  Brady came to us with a knowledge of Ontario wildlife and also some construction/building skills and we have named him our centre 'handy man'.  When he is not kept busy here, Brady can be found where he is most at home... in the great outdoors, either rock-climbing, camping, canoeing or fishing.